Flight-Free Adventures - Where to Visit by Train or Car Once Travel Restarts
From exploring some of the most picturesque towns in France to city weekends, ski breaks, and country boltholes, here are a few ideas for British travellers looking for their next flight-free adventure by train or car.
Head to Le Touquet Paris-Plage, Northern France, by Eurostar or Car
Nearest train station: Calais Fréthun. 55 minute Eurostar from London St Pancras, followed by 45-minute drive or one-hour train.
Le Touquet’s proximity to the UK makes it ideal for those who want to go abroad as soon as possible but are wary of travelling too far. Set along seven kilometres of white sandy beaches, the seaside town is a hub of sport with almost 300 activities available, from sand yachting and wakeboarding, horse riding and championship golf courses - spend your first international holiday enjoying an action-packed break on this little-known part of the French coastline.
Set on the beach, Novotel Thalassa offers a comfortable & trendy bolthole just a couple of minutes walk from the centre of the town's shops, cafes and markets. Alternatively, the famous Le Westminster Hotel is re-opening this summer following a multi-million-euro investment to become the only five-star hotel on the Opal Coast.
Prices at Novotel Thalassa Le Touquet Hotel start from €162 per night on a half board basis. Prices at Le Westminster Hotel tbc. Eurostar fares start from just £29 one-way. For more information please visit www.letouquet.com
Gourmet Getaway to Fauchon l’Hotel, Paris - the first hotel for Paris' gastronomic powerhouse
Nearest train station: Gare du Nord, Paris. Private electric Tesla transfer on arrival. St Pancras to the hotel takes an average of 2h45m, depending on traffic in Paris.
Fauchon L'Hotel Paris is housed in a beautiful Haussmannien building with a glamorous modern twist and touches of Fauchon's iconic hot pink, designed by the Parisian architect, Richard Martinet. With the strong thread of gastronomy that runs through, it is a true temple to the Fauchon patisserie brand - applauded for its sense of fun and its stylish service. The height of opulence can be found in Fauchon L'Hotel Paris' various suites - think towering floor-to-ceiling windows, Sacha Lakic-designed Gourmet Bar the size of a wardrobe (offering complimentary Fauchon sweet and savoury treats), acoustic Gibson guitars for a Parisian rockstar weekend away and views of the Eiffel Tower.
Nightly rates at Fauchon L’Hotel start from 450 EUR for a Classic Room (room only). Visit
Stonefield Castle - a fine example of Scottish baronial architecture
London to Glasgow by train: takes around 2h45mins. From there take a train to Inverary (2h 30mins) and taxi (30 mins) to the hotel, or hire a car in Glasgow - the drive to Tarbet Loch Fyne takes around 2h 15mins.
Built in 1837, Stonefield Castle is a fine example of Scottish baronial architecture and still retains much of its original furnishings, wood panelling, ornate ceilings and marble fireplaces. Beyond its interior splendour, the castle is set in 60 acres of woodland gardens, lapped by the shores of Loch Fyne. It is based just two miles from the idyllic fishing village of Tarbert, one of the most attractive villages on the Mull of Kintyre peninsula.
Nightly rates at Stonefield Castle start from £130. Visit https://www.bespokehotels.com/stonefieldcastle.
Discover one of Edinburgh’s Hidden Gems with a Scottish City Break at The Glasshouse
Nearest train station: Edinburgh, a five-minute walk from The Glasshouse hotel. The train journey London to Edinburgh takes approximately 4.5 hours.
Set in the heart of Edinburgh, with the shopping haven of Princes Street, historic Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery all just steps away, YTL Hotels’ The Glasshouse is the ideal destination for a post-lockdown break. The Glasshouse proudly boasts one of Edinburgh’s true hidden gems- a two-acre rooftop garden, offering guests a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city. With some of the most extensive outdoor space of any hotel in Edinburgh as well as 29 rooms with direct garden access, the hotel is ideal for those looking to enjoy the fresh air of the great outdoors, while still having easy access to all the city’s main attractions. Accessible to all guests, the rooftop garden is the ideal place for a summer picnic, afternoon tea or evening drink under the stars and boasts breathtaking views of the city and of the famous Calton Hill. An easy 5-minute walk from Edinburgh train station, the 77-room Glasshouse hotel greets guests with the impressive original church façade, before they are transported into the contrastingly contemporary design on the inside. Heading up to the award-winning Whisky
Snug, another hidden gem of the city, guests can peruse the impressive whisky cabinet, and settle in with a dram or two for the evening.
Nightly rates at The Glasshouse start from £200 per night. www.theglasshousehotel.co.uk
Stay in a Historic House Overlooking the Clyde Estuary with Oliver’s Travels
Nearest train station: Helensburgh Upper railway station is a five to 10 minute walk from Loch Lomond Manor, with direct trains running to Glasgow. Quickest journey time from London Euston is approximately five hours and 50 minutes.
Loch Lomond Manor is situated at the start of the West Highland Line, making it easily reachable from Glasgow and from there other transport links throughout the UK. Situated in the upper part of Helensburgh with beautiful views over the Clyde and Argyll, Loch Lomond Manor is a historic National Monuments house constructed between 1901 and 1902.
The house boasts buckets of character and charm across its five individual turrets, with beautiful period features throughout from tapestries to artworks. Sleeping 12 guests across six bedrooms, Loch Lomond Manor is a great choice for families with extensive gardens including a tree swing, a playhouse, and a summerhouse with a wood burning stove and seating to accommodate 8 guests.
Late 2020/2021 rates from £ 4,224 for a seven-night stay. To book, visit www.oliverstravels.com or call 0800 133 7999.
Explore the Scottish countryside and the loch long shores surrounding The Arrochar Hotel
Nearest train station: Arrochar & Tarbet train station 1.2 miles, on the West Highland line (1h35m from Glasgow)
The Arrochar Hotel is based at the foot of the ‘Arrochar Alps’ on the shores of Loch Long. With 75 comfortable en-suite bedrooms each with stunning views of the Loch, the hotel is the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. The highest peak of the ‘Arrochar Alps’ is a lofty 3,318 ft but for a slightly shorter hill walk, consider a visit to the Cobbler, also named Ben Arthur, with its distinctive rocky summit. This area offers extraordinary yet accessible adventures after which there is a fine malt whisky in the lounge bar of the Arrochar Hotel and a hearty traditional Scottish meal.
Doubles from £57 a night. Visit: https://www.bespokehotels.com/arrocharhotel
Stay Chic in Saint-Tropez at Hotel Lou Pinet
Nearest train station: Saint Tropez Gare Routiere Quai, 9- hour 30 minute train journey from London with a change in Marseille and St Raphael Valescure
Maisons Pariente's, Hotel Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez is set to re-open its doors in July following an extensive refurbishment. Located five minutes from the Place de Lices nearby the region’s most sought-after beaches, the five-star hotel offers guests 34 spacious guest bedrooms and suites bathed in natural light with private gardens, the popular Beefbar Restaurant, two bars, a Tata Harper Spa and a large emerald green swimming pool privately concealed away from the lively surroundings of Saint-Tropez. Soon to be opened for the second season following the hotel’s premier opening in June 2019, guests can once again look forward to enjoying an intimate hideaway that echoes the vintage Saint-Tropez spirit of the 60’s and 70’s created especially by French architect, interior decorator and designer Charles Zana.
Nightly rates at Hotel Lou Pinet start from 430 Euros on a bed & breakfast basis. For reservations and information visit www.loupinet.com email reservations@loupinet.com or call +33494970437
Explore Picture-Perfect Provence at Crillon Le Brave, France
Nearest train station: Gare d’Aix en Provence, 10- hour train Journey from London with a change in Marseille and Chateau Arnoux St Auban
Following its annual closure and full redevelopment, the five-star Hotel Crillon le Brave is set to re-open its doors to guests in early Summer. Nestled within a village eponymous of the Vaucluse region, the hotel offers guests 34 rooms and suites, comprised of 16 rooms and 18 suites, 20 of which have been re-designed showcasing a refreshed look for the summer season. The hotel reception area, public spaces and outdoor pool overlooking surrounding vineyards and picture-perfect Provençal countryside have also been exquisitely presented with the help of French designer and decorator Charles Zana. This timeless hideaway combines chic design, complete privacy and attentive but discreet service, offering the ultimate French getaway.
Nightly rates at Hotel Crillon Le Brave start from 350 Euros on a bed & breakfast basis. For reservations and information visit www.crillonlebrave.com email reservations@crillonlebrave.com or call + 33 4 90 65 61 61
Escape to a Haven of Tranquility in the Côte D’Azur with Gardens Designed by Diarmuid Gavin with Oliver’s Travels
Nearest train station: Gare de Monaco-Monte-Carlo, 10-hour train journey from London with a change in Paris
Oliver's Travels’ La Bayadere is set in the hills on the edge of the medieval village of La Turbie, sleeping 12 guests in six bedrooms. The villa once belonged to the world-famous ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and its beautiful gardens have been designed by the internationally renowned Diarmuid Gavin who has created a haven of tranquillity with sea and mountain views. Take a dip in the heated infinity swimming pool or lounge on the decked terrace admiring the incredible views.
The charm and glamour of Monaco is just a 15-minute drive away whilst Nice and Cannes are also a short drive by car. On the edge of a national park, there are some amazing walks across the region as well as tennis, rock-climbing and watersports nearby plus beautiful golf courses with glorious views.
Late 2020/2021 rates from £14,547 for a seven-night stay. To book, visit www.oliverstravels.com or call 0800 133 7999.
A French Escape on the Ile de Ré with Villa Clarisse
Travel by car: 10-hour drive from London
Located off the western coast of France, the Ile de Ré couldn’t feel further from our current surroundings in the UK. With its picturesque villages, whitewashed streets, long stretches of sandy beaches and cycle paths winding through cornfields and vineyards, the Ile de Ré is a picture perfect destination for a post-lockdown getaway. Stay at the idyllic Villa Clarisse, nestled down a quiet cobbled street off Saint-Martin-de-Ré’s harbour, and enjoy a laid-back retreat where the staff are on hand to arrange picnics, bicycle hire and day trips.
The nine-bedroom Villa Clarisse can also be rented out for exclusive use. Nightly rates at Villa Clarisse start from €290 per night in a Premium Room (room-only). For further information and reservations, please visit www.villa-clarisse.com or call +33 546 684 300.
Hop on the Ferry and Escape to Nature with Slieve Donard Resort & Spa, Northern Ireland
Ferry: Norfolkline Ferry from Liverpool to Belfast offers an overnight service (roughly 8 hours). Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is then less than an hour’s drive away. Total journey time: less than 12 hours.
The Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is situated on the idyllic seashores of the Irish sea on Newcastle Bay. The hotel looks out to the Mountains of Mourne with spectacular views across the Royal County Down Golf Course. Set in six acres of beautifully kept private grounds, the property is famous for its expansive and luxurious spa. Guests can escape to a cocoon of calm and melt away their stresses with over two floors of tranquillity, including a magnificent 20 metre swimming pool and Vitality Pool, amethyst steam room and high tech fitness studio.
The Slieve Donard Resort & Spa (hastingshotels.com ; 028 4372 1066) offers rooms from £65 per person on a B&B Basis.
The Ultimate Skiing Destination: Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Italian Alps
Nearest Train Station: Chamonix Mont Blanc (a 20 minute from Courmayeur through the Mont Blanc Tunnel). A Eurostar runs from London to Chamonix Mont Blanc running regularly everyday. Average journey time 20 hours.
Courmayeur Mont Blanc is situated on the Italian side of Mont Blanc (the sunnier side!) and is a traditional yet sophisticated resort full of history and charm and surrounded by spectacular scenery. The resort is a veritable playground for families. With its car-free cobbled streets, family-run hotels, charming atmosphere, short transfer times and the superb Ski School Monte Bianco, regarded as one of Italy’s best, it’s no surprise that Courmayeur Mont Blanc is already a firm favourite among mountain-loving families, many of whom return year after year.
For more information visit: https://www.courmayeurmontblanc.it/en, call +39 0165 841612 or email info@courmayeurblanc.it.
Little Emperors' Predicts a Rise In Train and Driving Holidays For The Summer
Photo Credit: Bastides des Gordes; Four Seasons Cap Ferrat; Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Rebecca Masri, Founder of Little Emperors comments: "We have seen a 60% increase in enquiries to hotels in France and the UK countryside indicating a rise in the flight free holiday. As travellers start to plan their summer holidays and with the potential fear of crowds installed, we predict a huge rise in travel by train and the driving holiday as people want to get away without having to travel too far from home. We have had demand from June particularly for La Reserve in Ramatuelle, Four Seasons in Cap Ferrat, and Bastides to Gordes in Provence. All properties are away from big cities which further indicates the desire to travel to places with space, away from crowds where you are more susceptible to catching this virus"
Little Emperors is delighted to share a roundup of the hottest hotels in France for travel in 2020, all accessible via train. Stay at the newly refurbished Hotel De Paris, experience the Cote-d'Azurs most legendary palace hotel, the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat Four Seasons or enjoy moments of complete relaxation with panoramic views across lavender fields in Provence at La Bastide de Gordes, a majestic 12th Century French Chateau. Experience all of these hotels with unparalleled rates and dedicated benefits when booking with Little Emperors, benefits include complimentary breakfast, hotel credit and an upgrade upon availability, along with several other VIP benefits.
Little Emperors, the luxury private members hotel club offers preferential rates and dedicated benefits to its 35,000 members, working with 4,000 of the very best luxury hotels around the world. Little Emperors annual membership fees starts from £250. Tel + 44 203 178 4984 or email info@littleemperors.com. https://littleemperors.com/
Explore Hipster Hamburg with Ruby Hotels
Ruby Hotels’ sixth hotel, Ruby Lotti, is now officially open in Hamburg’s central Stadthausbrücke district. With a total of 290 rooms, Ruby Lotti is the largest property yet for the disruptive Munich-based brand and pioneer of the ‘Lean Luxury’ philosophy.
Set within a former publishing house, Ruby Lotti enjoys a water-front position just steps from the neighbourhood’s lively nightlife, culinary hotspots, shops and transport links. An expansive indoor and outdoor terrace bar offers a stylish watering hole for guests and locals alike, while an on-property work space and library provide ample space for both work and relaxation.
Drawing on both the surrounding area and the building’s industrious past life, the design of the hotel is themed around the reportage and tabloid journalism of the fifties and sixties, with antique furniture and artefacts providing a sense of place and history. The neighbouring Fleet river provides further inspiration, with nautical elements such as portholes, striped wall panels and ribbed ceilings giving the rooms a maritime flair.
Nightly rates at Ruby Lotti, Hamburg, will start from €89 per night for a Nest Room, including breakfast. For more information, please visit www.ruby-hotels.com.
Go Green and Glam in Monaco
Home to the hugely successful Monaco e-Rallye, the eco-responsible Grimaldi Forum and Cultural Centre, and the marine conservation Monaco Blue Initiative attended annually by experts in ocean management and conservation from the UN, UNESCO, European Commission and more, Monaco has long made bridging the gap between luxury and sustainability a priority. The ‘Green is the New Glam’ campaign aims to build on this commitment and bring it to the forefront of the principalities agenda.
Several targets have been put in place in order to achieve this, including the ultimate goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 by 50% compared with 1990 levels and of achieving total carbon neutrality by 2050.
Visit Monaco’s tourism partners are fully invested in the drive towards sustainability, from the family business, L’Orangerie, which produces delicious orange liqueur from the left-over orange rinds of local restaurants and hotels, to the organic, Michelin-starred Blue Bay restaurant at the Monte-Carlo Bay hotel which grows much of its produce in its onsite kitchen garden run by urban agriculturalists Terre de Monaco.
Other key initiatives include the recent installation of beehives at the four-star Novotel Monte-Carlo, while the iconic Fairmont Monte-Carlo’s entire central heating and air conditioning system is powered by four underground heat pumps, a renewable energy source which draws heat from the seawater surrounding the hotel.
For more information on the Visit Monaco and the Green is the New Glam campaign, visit www.visitmonaco.com.